Home > Texas Cases > Texas Exonerations > Billy James Smith
Billy Smith was wrongfully convicted of a Dallas County aggravated sexual assault in 1986. He was granted DNA testing in 2005 and finally exonerated in 2006. He served approximately 20 years of the life sentence imposed upon him for a sexual assault committed by someone else. He now resides in the DFW area and has re-started his life as a free man.
Smith’s ordeal began when he was misidentified by the victim in the case. Her identification of Smith was strongly influenced by her boyfriend, who although he did not witness the attack itself pointed to Smith as the perpetrator of the crime. Smith’s sister testified to her brother’s alibi at the time of the offense, but a guilty verdict was returned by the jury nonetheless.
During his time in prison, Smith took it upon himself to research the law regarding actual innocence litigation in Texas. In 2001, he requested that DNA testing be completed in his case, but his motions were denied by the trial and appellate courts. It wasn’t until the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heard Smith’s case that he was finally given the opportunity to have his DNA tested and prove his innocence.
*Photo by Greg Kendall-Ball